Nagpur friends and associates recall Nana Patekar's ties with the city after his death

Nana Patekar made many characters memorable with his acting on screen, but his relationship with Nagpur was not only that of an artiste. His social commitment to water, farmers and village problems also tied him to the city. After his death, several people in Nagpur associated with him have shared their memories.

On May 18, 2026, a "Jal Kranti Parishad" was held at Suresh Bhat Sabhagruha in Nagpur under the leadership of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Patekar attended as president of the "Naam Foundation" and stressed the need for joint efforts to conserve water. During the same visit, he also called on Gadkari at his home. Kanchan Gadkari then gave him a one-kilogram onion grown on her farm as a gift. Patekar shared a particularly warm bond with the Gadkari family, but this year's trip turned out to be his last visit to Nagpur.

Flight Lieutenant Shivali Deshpande (retd) said her relationship with "Nana Mama" began during the shooting of the film "Prahaar" and grew into a close, family-like bond. When he came to Nagpur district or Belgaum for shoots, he never stayed at the house like a guest. He was at ease as in his own home, and was outspoken and direct. His words carried firmness, but behind it lay affection for people and a yearning to do something for society. For Deshpande, therefore, he was not merely a great actor but a man of rich thoughts.

Recalling an incident, Deshpande said an NCC CATC-3 camp was under way and she was representing the Nagpur Group in the Best Cadet competition. It was the camp of the RDC 1993 Maharashtra Contingent. Patekar happened to be in Pune in those days and came to meet her at the camp. He hugged her tightly and said, "I know your rival is very strong, but I also know that you will win the gold medal." According to Deshpande, his faith in her went beyond words, and that one moment filled her with fresh enthusiasm and confidence.

In 2016, Patekar wanted to start his organisation in Vidarbha. To decide where to begin, he took the help of "Jan Manch", an organisation already active in Nagpur and Vidarbha. With Jan Manch's support, he gave financial help, in the form of cheques of Rs 15,000 and clothes, to widows of families hit by farmer suicides in Nagpur and surrounding districts.

Rajeev Jagtap, former president of Jan Manch, said Patekar had said from that platform that the support given to such farmer families must never stop and that a single effort of ours could change the condition of these families. Jagtap said his sudden death is an irreparable loss to society.

Prakash Adlabadkar also shared memories of Patekar. He said it would now be difficult to find an actor as rough and tough, yet as kind and sensitive, as Patekar. Patekar had come to the inauguration of the "Prahaar Samaj Jagruti Sanstha", and Adlabadkar interviewed him then. That meeting became a treasured memory for him. He met Patekar again when the actor spoke at an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad event at Reshimbagh ground.

Adlabadkar also recalled that the 77th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan was held in Nashik in 1997, where Patekar's presidential address was superb. According to him, on the big screen or the small, a Patekar entry was a lion's entry, and such an entry will not be seen again.